David Brewster

There ought to be a serious, substantive, energetic candidate entering the mayor's race. Right now. A candidate with strong ideas needs to start early, raising money, getting known, and getting educated about city issues.

The whole drainage system was cut by three-quarters, rather than developing the large Duwamish basin. And the delta of the Duwamish was turned into a polluted industrial waterway, its meanders filled and its main stem dredged.

Seattle, like many other cities, has built its arts facilities as a way to "save" downtown. But now, many cities such as Los Angeles are realizing that congestion, costs, and public safety are combining to create rival performance venues in nearby suburbs. That's happening here.

After the Civil War, the area was discovered by wealthy, horse-keeping Manhattanites. In the time-honored pattern, they built summer cottages there and later turned them into Gatsby-like mansions.

Nothing like a failed coup to provide cover for a dictator to crack down on enemies.

At the head of the list of desirable new directions is a new theme for downtown as a series of distinct residential neighborhoods.

It may be that Crosscut, which can seem reliably "woke," is seeking to adjust its editorial formula for solid journalistic reasons. 

Among the setbacks: The defeat of the Commons levies turned out to be a last hurrah for the Seattle Establishment (architects, parks advocates, housing activists), and it greatly discouraged the progressive forces and money.

Ideas for reviving local arts: a Summer Festival to raise the standards, and the revival of PONCHO.

The arts in our region definitely need new funding, but this new source is likely to have lots of strings attached, and the funds would be spread widely to smaller groups as well as heritage organizations.